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Service has resumed at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, days after terrorists launched a deadly assault on the congregation.
On November 18, ten gunmen invaded the church during an evening worship session, shooting indiscriminately at members. Thirty-eight worshippers were abducted, and several people — including the pastor — were killed in the attack.
A viral video obtained by SaharaReporters from the church’s service held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, captures the minister declaring that divine judgment would fall upon the terrorists responsible for the killings and abductions.
Encouraging congregants to remain steadfast, he reminded them of Christ’s promise of eternal life for believers.
He said, “As a Christian, you must not fear death. Jesus has promised you eternal life. He has promised eternal life to us.
"Don’t let us fear death. Anywhere death comes to you, make sure you do not curse Jesus. If you don’t curse Jesus, the promise is for you that Jesus will take you to a place of peace. This world will end but the life Jesus has promised us has no end. It is forever. He said we should not allow our hearts to be troubled.
“I want you to take comfort in knowing that they (our fellow worshippers) died at the feet of Jesus. They died a righteous death. Anyone who is killed for the gospel of Jesus Christ dies as a witness for Christ.
"And it is in the bible that God will avenge the deaths of the witnesses for Christ. Their blood will cry for justice. Those evil people (terrorists), watch out, God’s judgment will come upon them. The bible tells us that death is the path to life.”
Security footage from the service also shows police officers and a patrol van stationed outside the church to guard against further attacks.
The attack has once again reignited global debates on religious persecution in Nigeria. Advocacy groups and several U.S. politicians argue that Christians are under systematic assault, while Nigerian authorities maintain that the nation’s insecurity affects both Christians and Muslims without discrimination.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently stirred controversy by redesignating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom — a decision praised by Christian advocacy groups but firmly rejected by the Nigerian government.
Human-rights organizations such as the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and Open Doors claim that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed and 18,000 churches destroyed since 2009. U.S. lawmakers including Senator Ted Cruz have gone as far as calling Nigeria the “deadliest country in the world for Christians.”
However, Nigerian government officials strongly dispute these claims. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar argued that the government does not record victims based on religion, insisting that insecurity affects everyone.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia similarly rejected claims of religious genocide, attributing killings to long-standing conflicts over land and resources, not faith.
Analysts warn that portraying Nigeria’s crisis as a “Christian genocide” risks oversimplifying a complex situation driven by terrorism, banditry, socio-economic grievances, and governance failures. Militant groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have consistently targeted both Muslims and Christians.
With Nigeria back on the CPC list, the United States can apply sanctions or restrict aid — a move Trump defends while warning that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in the country.
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